Articles

American Whitewater and Liquid Logic are cooperatively accepting rent contributions to maintain the $500/month payments for use of the privately-owned parking lot off of Gallimore Road that provides access to the Upper Green and Green River Narrows. If the lot is going to remain open past March 1, the ENTIRE Green River paddling community must pitch in. If our ability to pay the rent falters due to insufficient funds, the parking lot will be locked starting in March and there

Through working with TVA on the Reservoir Operation Study, American Whitewater staff requested that TVA work with the paddling community to develop a method of alerting paddlers to uncontrolled spills in the Hiwassee Dry Gorge.  This Gorge, near the Ocoee and Tellico rarely runs because of TVA’s Appalachia Dam and bypass tunnel which divert the river into a tunnel for the length of the Dries. AW staff recieved a call from the TVA this morning indicating that Appalachia dam would be

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a new 30 year license for the Bear River Projects in southeast Idaho.  PacifiCorp has requested clarification of several inconsistencies in the license, but the balance of the license provisions has already taken effect.   As a result of additional FERC license conditions, recreational whitewater releases in the Class IV (V) Black Canyon section near Grace, ID will be delayed one year.  “Scheduled” whitewater releases are now expected to begin in year 5

When: Saturday, February 7th, 2004 from 3 – 8 PM,   Snow Date is Feb 14th, 2004Where: Saucon Valley High School Auditorium, Hellertown, PA.  For directions,  click here.  For custom Mapquest Directions, enter your origin or start location here.Admission: $6 in Advance, $8 at the Door. Tickets on Sale Dec. 14th at Nestors Sporting Goods and at Blue Mountain Sports in Jim Thorpe and at the Adventure Lodge off 191. Click links for directions.Tickets are also available at Eastern Mountain Sports,

American Whitewater’s Eastern Conservation and Access Director Kevin Colburn was pleased to accept a $1,500 donation from the Tennessee Valley Canoe Club after presenting a short talk on the Ocoee River and other region rivers at a club meeting.  The talk provided AW with a chance to share our recent success on the Upper Ocoee with some of the Ocoee’s biggest fans.  AW would like to thank 2003 TVCC president Tyler Freeman (pictured left), 2004 TVCC president Paul Shoun (pictured right), and

After nearly ten years, the environmental assessment of the proposed dam on the Kettle River near Christina Lake (southern interior of BC) is now in its final stages. All comments must be received by the BC Environmental Assessment office by February 16th, 2004. However, comments sent after that date are still important, so keep sending them. Take Action! Please make your opinion heard and help oppose the project. Check Ryan Durand’s Cascade Canyon of the Kettle River website for additional

The USFS issued a Record of Decision on Tuesday, January 20th 2004 that maintains the ban on paddling the Wild and Scenic Headwaters of the Chattooga River. In doing so the USFS has begun a bad public policy of zoning paddlers away from anglers, based on the absurd assumption that the two uses are incompatible. This policy could ultimately result in both anglers and paddlers losing access to rivers they cherish, but for now the decision simply discriminates against paddlers.

American Whitewater is seeking motivated volunteers with access to the libraries at Washington and Lee University and Virginia Tech. These volunteers are needed to research and organize historical and legal information regarding navigability, water rights, and land ownership in the state of Virginia. This information will be utilized by American Whitewater staff and volunteers in our work on a variety of stream access projects in Virginia. We intend to have a lawyer oversee this coordinated research effort. While a legal

Idaho is proposing a $13 registration fee for non-motorized boats greater than 7 feet in length. Under this registration fee proposal all kayaks and rafts on Idaho waters would be required to have a registration sticker fixed to the bow of each boat greater than 7 feet in length. Stickers would not be transferable between boats. Out of state boaters would be required to comply as well.   The proposal appears to have been initiated in KootenaiCounty in the northern

The Sequoia National Forest filed the revised 4(e) conditions for the Kern River No. 3 Hydropower Project on the Kern River, California.  The section 4(e) conditions have been revised from those filed in 1996 by the Sequoia National Forest to reflect the changes requested in the Settlement Agreement reached between Southern California Edison (SCE), American Whitewater, Friends of the River and other parties in December, 2002.  Issuance of the Forest Service’s revised conditions marks the end of a long legal

The Swan Sites Homeowners group along the Swan River has petitioned the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to amend the boating regulations for a reach of the Swan River from the outlet of Swan Lake to the confluence with Bear Creek.  This four mile stretch contains Class II whitewater popular for kayak instruction, canoeists, tubers, fishermen and swimmers. Montana FWP is accepting public comments on this proposal through January 30, 2004.  Comments can be submitted electronically or via

The Sequoia National Forest filed the revised 4(e) conditions for the Kern River No. 3 Hydropower Project on the Kern River, California.  The section 4(e) conditions have been revised from those filed in 1996 by the Sequoia National Forest to reflect the changes requested in the Settlement Agreement reached between Southern California Edison (SCE), American Whitewater, Friends of the River and other parties in December, 2002.  Issuance of the Forest Service’s revised conditions marks the end of a long legal

The Washington Department of Ecology has initiated a water quality assessment for the state including updates to the “Polluted Waters List” otherwise known under the Federal Clean Water Act as the 303(d) list.  Washington DOE is soliciting public comments between now and March 15th, 2004.  In addition the Department will host a series of public meetings across the state to gather input.  For more information on how to provide information on polluted waters or attend a public meeting visit the

There will be a one day conference on January 31st in eastern Pennsylvania that will address dam removal and rehabilitation in the state and region. It is likely that this very affordable conference would be helpful to paddlers interested in working on dam removal projects in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Registration for the conference is due by January 23rd. Please refer to the conference announcement below for additional information.   Dams: Rehabilitation or Removal ? This conference, presented by the Pennsylvania

There will be a one day conference on January 31st in eastern Pennsylvania that will address dam removal and rehabilitation in the state and region. It is likely that this very affordable conference would be helpful to paddlers interested in working on dam removal projects in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Registration for the conference is due by January 23rd. Please refer to the conference announcement below for additional information.   Dams: Rehabilitation or Removal ? This conference, presented by the Pennsylvania

American Whitewater is in search of artists to show their work at the 50th Anniversary Gala Event Paddlers Art Gallery.  We are looking for gifted individuals from a variety of art forms who have been influenced by nature to create works that visually inspire whitewater enthusiasts. The 50th Anniversary Gala Event in Vail this June is will have a “Paddlers Art Gallery” similar to the successful program seen at the 2003 Gauley River Festival.  Artist who participated in the Gauley

On February 7, 2004, the Lehigh Valley Canoe Club in conjunction with the National Paddling Film Festival is hosting a River Film Festival at Saucon Valley High School Auditorium, Hellertown, Pa.Sponsor tables will be available in the lobby of the auditorium for companies or non-profit organizations that would like to promote themselves directly to paddlers, our friends, and the public.  We expect to fill the 800+ seat auditorium. Merchandise will be silent auctioned or given away as door prizes and all proceeds